“I’m not afraid!” Chi Ji declared.
“Neither am I!” Huang Xiao added.
Determination filled their eyes, a silent vow that they wished only to follow him until the very end.
Xu Xian smiled.
He was somewhat moved.
After four hundred years, what more could he ask for than to have old friends feel this way?
“But... I am afraid,” Xu Xian said.
The two were confused.
Xu Xian continued, “Everyone has their own path to walk. Just as I must go up, you two should stay behind.”
It was a refusal.
A tactful rejection.
Huang Xiao hung his head, and Chi Ji’s face fell.
She whispered, “I knew it.”
She knew Xu Xian would refuse, and she knew he would say something like that.
Was she happy?
Or was she hurt?
She was happy that Xu Xian cared, but hurt that she couldn't accompany him.
Regardless, the outcome was already decided.
It wasn't decided just now, but four hundred years ago. From the moment they learned Xu Xian had challenged the world with his sword, they knew that their lives would no longer follow the same path as his.
If they weren't on the same path, how could they travel together?
Even if they walked the same road, they would likely never be able to catch up to him in this lifetime.
Today, Xu Xian had simply said it out loud.
Still unwilling to give up, Chi Ji asked, “Can you just... not go?”
Xu Xian smiled but did not answer.
The answer was no.
Chi Ji compromised and accepted it. “I understand.”
Huang Xiao picked up his teacup and drained it in one gulp. With a furrowed brow and a grimace, he said, “This tea... is truly bitter.”
The tea was bitter,
And so were their hearts...
Xu Xian asked out of the blue, “Do you want some wine?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s drink!”
Xu Xian took out his collection of strong liquor and invited the two to drink their fill, to drink until they were well and truly drunk...
After three rounds of wine, a slight flush appeared on their faces. Under the moonlight, they reminisced about the past, talking about their early days, sharing embarrassing stories and interesting anecdotes.
A hundred years of wind and rain, a hundred years of lamps,
The autumn wind soughs through the silent night.
When dawn arrives and it’s time to part,
A cup of cloudy wine to toast the rest of our lives.
For the rest of the night, they no longer spoke of the world, nor did they ask about Xu Xian’s ascent to the Heavens.
They did not resent Xu Xian for leaving them behind, nor did they resent him for taking away their fathers.
Even though they knew that the path ahead was vast and filled with danger, Xu Xian was going there himself.
Since he was personally venturing into danger, what room was there for complaint?
In their silent drinking, everything was said.
You may go; do not linger.
We will stay; do not worry.
When it was finally time to part, Chi Ji asked Xu Xian, “Will we meet again?”
Xu Xian thought for a moment and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Chi Ji asked again, “Will you come back?”
Without hesitation, Xu Xian answered firmly, “I will.”
Huang Xiao chimed in, “Good. Then it’s a promise. We’ll protect the mortal realm for you. When you return, if we’re still alive, you’ll take us with you.”
Pleading filled Chi Ji’s eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, Xu Xian nodded and smiled. “Alright!”
Huang Xiao gave a triumphant grin. “We’ll wait for you.”
Chi Ji’s eyes sparkled. “Take care!”
Xu Xian cupped his hands in a bow. “Until we meet again.”
The two left.
They had come with the stars and the moon, and they departed with the morning light.
Coming from the sea of clouds, they returned to it, vanishing into the mist...
Xu Xian watched them from the high pavilion.
The two looked back with every step.
...
Jin Qing arrived uninvited. She glanced at the wine jars scattered across the floor and said softly, “Quite the sentimental scene.”
Xu Xian lowered his gaze, his voice tinged with melancholy. “Meetings and partings are hurried; this regret persists year after year.”
Jin Qing walked forward to stand beside the youth, also looking out beyond the sea of clouds. She asked slowly, “Will it really be alright to leave the Demon Abyss to those two?”
Xu Xian glanced at her, his eyes filled with suspicion.
Jin Qing smiled and asked, “Isn't that what you were thinking?”
Xu Xian denied it. “When did I ever say that?”
“Is it not?” Jin Qing turned her head to look at him.
Xu Xian said calmly, “Of course. Whom you entrust the Demon Abyss to is your business. You give it to whoever you trust; I won't interfere. As for who will rule the Demon Abyss in the future, I can’t decide that, and neither can you.”
Jin Qing’s brow relaxed slightly. “That’s true.”
That was the reality of the situation.
Once they left, they didn't know how long they would be gone, or if they would even survive.
Xu Xian took the initiative to ask, “So, did they say anything?”
Jin Qing replied indifferently, “It doesn't matter.”
Xu Xian shrugged and echoed her words. “True...”
What would they say?
What would they think?
The outcome could not be changed.
Bathed in the wind, Xu Xian took a deep breath and glanced at the sky. “The sun is up. It’s time for me to go.”
This time, Jin Qing did not try to make him stay. After all, they would see each other again soon.
It was only a month away.
“Alright!”
Xu Xian smiled. “Until next time.”
Jin Qing smiled back. “Yes, until next time.”
With that, Xu Xian departed.
He headed straight for the outer skies, moving as fast as a shooting star...
After Xu Xian left, Jin Yu stepped out from the shadows and stood silently beside Jin Qing.
Jin Qing’s gentle gaze shifted toward her as she asked, “Xiao Yu.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you afraid?”
Jin Yu grinned like a young girl, her voice sweet. “With Sister here, I’m not afraid...”
Jin Qing’s eyes narrowed with affection as she said dotingly, “Silly girl!”
...
After leaving the Nether Hall, Xu Xian did not immediately leave the Demon Abyss. Instead, he followed the Nether River westward until he reached the end of the nether water, which was also the end of the Demon Abyss.
There was a deep abyss shrouded in Chaos Mist.
The nether water cascaded down into it.
It was bottomless.
The little book spirit’s Pupil of Insight activated, and a brilliant light flashed in Xu Xian’s eyes as everything within the abyss came into view.
He released his divine sense.
His will was like a sword, descending like a silken thread hanging from the sky.
With a sharp whistle, a pair of giant eyes glowing with white light suddenly snapped open within the endless darkness of the abyss, revealing a hint of ferocity.
Baring its fangs toward the top of the abyss, it let out a roar.
“Roar!”
Outside the abyss, astral winds surged and dust flew. Xu Xian’s robes and hair fluttered wildly in the gale, but he only chuckled.
“Quite a size, and quite a temper too?”
The next second, a black shadow dispersed the heavy mist and soared out of the abyss, hovering in the sky.
It was a massive creature with horns on its head and wings on its back, its entire body covered in silver scales.
A Silver Demon Dragon.
It was one of the three remaining demon dragons in the Demon Abyss, and it had been slumbering deep within the Nether Abyss.
It had no master.
That was why Xu Xian had come.
He had to take it with him.
The silver dragon looked down at the tiny human before it. There wasn't a trace of arrogance in its giant dragon eyes; instead, they were filled with caution and wariness.
It acted as if it were facing a great enemy.
Two plumes of white mist, as cold as frost, puffed from its nostrils. In an extremely humble tone, it asked, “Who are you? Why have you come here?”
Xu Xian knew it didn't concern itself with the world, but he didn't feel like wasting words. He narrowed his eyes and got straight to the point.
“I’ll give you two choices. Option one: submit to me.”
A fierce light flickered in the silver dragon’s eyes. “And the second?” it asked in a low voice.
The corners of Xu Xian’s mouth curled up as he said overbearingly, “I’ll kill you.”
The silver dragon remained silent, its demon essence surging.
Xu Xian kindly reminded it, “I suggest you choose the first one.”
“Reason?”
“I don’t wish to kill today,” Xu Xian said.
The silver dragon fell silent for a long time before asking, “Are you Xu Xian, of the Wendao Sword Sect?”
Xu Xian was slightly surprised. “You recognize me?”
The silver dragon did not respond. It retracted its claws, hid its ferocity, and lowered its massive body, adopting the unique submissive posture of the demon beasts of the Demon Abyss.
Lowering its dragon head, it said, “I will follow you.”
Xu Xian was stunned. That was quick. This was...
The Silver Demon Dragon explained, “I don’t want to die.”
Xu Xian suddenly laughed and said approvingly, “You are a wise dragon.”
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